Precision Applicators

The 4Rs promote best management practices (BMPs) to achieve cropping system goals while minimizing field nutrient loss and maximizing crop uptake. With the social responsibility of maintaining environmentally friendly practices and the increasing cost of inputs, farmers are beginning to turn to the 4R farming approach.

Right Fertilizer Source – Ensure a balanced supply of essential nutrients, considering both naturally available sources and the characteristics of specific products, in plant available forms.

Right Rate – Assess and make decisions based on soil nutrient supply and plant demand.

Right Time – Assess and make decisions based on the dynamics of crop uptake, soil supply, nutrient loss risks, and field operation logistics.

Right Place – Address root-soil dynamics and nutrient movement, and manage spatial variability within the field to meet site-specific crop needs and limit potential losses from the field.

Recognizing farmers' need of more efficient fertilizer application, Salford has been developing section control options to help improve agricultural productivity by reducing the amount of fertilizer needed, as well reducing the farmers' detrimental impact on the environment by keeping fertilizer within the field's boundaries. BBI, a division of Salford Group has been helping farmers by building Section Control models for the turf and orchard/vineyard markets for over 15 years. This year, Salford BBI has released one of North America's first spinner applicators equipped with section control that is engineered for commercial agriculture. The new section control option provides users with numerous economic and environmental benefits through the vastly improved control of the spreader allowing farmers to apply the Right Fertilizer Source, at the Right Rate, on the Right Place.

SECTION CONTROL

Allows users to turn off either side of the spreader in areas where fertilizer has already been applied, thus reducing wasted application.

PRESCRIPTION MAPS

With a prescription map controlling the left/right sections, the user doesn't need to worry about guessing or remembering when to manually control the spread pattern.

MORE ACCURATE SYSTEM

This system allows for vastly improved control of the spreader for a more accurate and environmentally friendlier application at a time when we are becoming more aware of the need to control where our inputs are applied.

BOUNDARY MAPS

The system also follows boundary maps to eliminate or reduce applying outside of the field or into sensitive areas around the field such as buffer strips and water ways.